Heathrow will unleash a £1.3bn improvement drive in 2026 as the airport kicks off a long-awaited overhaul of Terminal 4 and pushes ahead with major upgrades across its estate.

Construction on the T4 revamp will begin with a new multi storey car park and an upgraded check in hall. The work will run in phases to keep the terminal operating normally and is expected to complete in 2031.

Heathrow will also start building a dedicated baggage system for Terminal 2 capable of handling 31000 bags a day and reducing airline costs by cutting misconnected luggage.

The new programme builds on a year of record growth and punctuality and sets up the next phase of Heathrow’s strategy to become a more resilient and user friendly.

CEO Thomas Woldbye said passengers should expect each trip through Heathrow to improve as investment continues to lift service standards and operational performance nationwide.

The works sit within the airport’s current H7 investment period. Longer term plans including a third runway depend on Government policy decisions and the regulatory framework for the next investment cycle H8 running from 2027 to 2031.